Princess Leona's eyes lingered on Kaito with a trace of surprise, as if she hadn't expected him to turn down nobility for a piece of equipment.
"Is our kingdom's Earlship and territory not worth more than a simple equipment?" she asked softly.
Kaito shook his head, his tone steady. "It's not that becoming an Earl is bad. It's not that the territory is worthless. And it's not that your Solaris Kingdom isn't strong. But everyone has their own path, their own needs. What works for one person might not fit another." He paused, then added with a faint smile, "After all, some prefer sweet fruit, others bitter herbs. It's just a matter of preference."
Leona let out a small, helpless laugh at his words. Without saying more, she extended her hand and passed the glowing jade pendant to him.
…
Purification Jade Pendant – Special Equipment
Requirements: Can only be worn by the one it is willingly given to. Cannot be dropped, traded, or stolen. Bound upon wearing.
Effect: Grants 80% immunity to negative effects such as control, knockback, slowing, curses, poison, burning, freezing, and paralysis.
Abyssal Resistance: +100
…
Kaito's lips curled into a satisfied smile as he studied the pendant. This effect is too abnormal. He had seen countless items in his past life, but even during the late stages of the game, few could compare to this. The sheer utility of such immunity was unmatched. An eighty-percent resistance meant that most of the control skills that could cripple other players would barely touch him.
Even more, the added Abyssal resistance was a weapon in itself against the most dangerous enemies they had faced so far.
If he had owned this pendant back when he fought the Mist Queen, he could have resisted the Abyssal energy erosion with ease.
To him, this was worth far more than the promise of titles or land, things he could work toward later.
As he slipped the pendant around his neck, a calm warmth spread through his body. His movements felt lighter, his senses sharper, his spirit steadier. For the first time since stepping into the Misty Palace, Kaito truly felt prepared for whatever came next.
As soon as Princess Leona saw Kaito put on the pendant, she gave a faint smile and waved her hand.
"Since I've given you your reward, you may leave."
Before Kaito could react, light wrapped around him, and in the next moment he was standing back in the throne room of the Misty Palace.
Kaito blinked, stunned. He hadn't expected to be sent away so suddenly. A thought flashed through his mind, Was that it? Just an equipment reward? He had been sure that such a rare hidden mission would carry more than a single outcome. For a moment, he stood there in silence, his brows furrowed as he replayed the scene in his head.
A sound pulled him back. From the side of the throne, Mei Rin and the others rushed over, their faces filled with relief.
The moment Kaito had gone down into the hidden chamber, they had waited nervously. Only two minutes later, the stone floor had started to shift back into place, closing the chamber entirely. They had panicked, trying everything to stop it. Mei Rin even pressed the same hidden groove that Kaito had told them about, but nothing worked. In the end, they had no choice but to watch as the throne slid back into its original position, sealing the chamber as if it had never opened at all.
Now, seeing Kaito reappear, alive and unharmed, they finally let out the breath they'd been holding.
Kaito, however, was still half lost in thought. The fact that Princess Leona had given him such a powerful pendant already made this mission worth more than anything he had expected. But the way it had ended the abrupt dismissal, it all seemed incomplete. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became.
"This wasn't a one-time mission," he thought, eyes narrowing slightly. "It has to be a chain quest."
In his last life, he had only heard vague rumors about the missing princess of Solaris. He had never seen her, never even learned where she had been hidden. Now he understood. The Misty Palace had been her prison all along, and the mission to rescue her was the start of something much bigger.
His lips curved into a faint, excited smile. If this was truly a chain quest tied directly to a royal NPC, then it wasn't something that ended here. It would continue, and only he would hold its path.
Even if he never joined any faction, this alone could serve as a permanent source of quests, rewards, and benefits. Something unique. Something no one else could ever take from him.
Before Kaito could think any further, Mei Rin spoke up.
"Brother Kaito, what did you find down there?"
Looking up, Kaito saw the curious faces of his teammates. He gave a small smile and shared the basics about discovering a hidden quest. Of course, he kept his deeper thoughts about it possibly being a chain quest to himself.
When he showed them the Purification Jade Pendant, everyone leaned closer to see its properties. The moment they read the effects, gasps echoed through the room.
Inside the Misty Palace, while Kaito and his team had just cleared the King-level difficulty, another fierce battle was happening elsewhere.
Zephyr and the Storm Life guild had been inside the Hard-level dungeon for more than fifteen minutes. The atmosphere was tense. Their party moved carefully through the halls of the palace, where shadows twisted unnaturally and traps waited at every corner. Zephyr's vice-captain, Marek Vos, stood close at his side, his shield raised.
"Captain," Marek Vos muttered, "the monsters here aren't like the Elite run. They're faster and hitting harder than before. If this keeps up, our healers won't be able to keep pace."
Zephyr exhaled slowly, forcing calm into his voice. "We can't turn back now. If we want to clear this Hard-level, we push forward. Just remember we've trained for this. Stick to your roles."
Behind him, the Storm Life members nodded firmly, though sweat dripped down their brows. They knew their captain was right, but the weight of the dungeon was already pressing down on them.
Meanwhile, in another subspace of the Misty Palace, Velena Ardent led Crimson Rose through their own Hard-level challenge. Unlike Zephyr's aggressive approach, Velena's party moved with precise coordination, their formation neat and disciplined.
"Vice-Captain Ravera Flameviel," Velena said quietly, "keep the archers spread out. These wraiths focus the backline. Don't let them break formation."
Ravera adjusted her bowstring, her crimson cloak trailing behind her as she answered, "Understood, Guild Leader. I'll cover the mages as well."
Velena's team fought like a blade's edge clean, sharp, and efficient. Every strike was purposeful, every defense timed. They were determined not to fall behind Storm Life, no matter the cost.
Both guilds pressed forward, unaware of what had just happened deeper inside the King-level dungeon.
Then it came.
The world of Glory trembled with the sound of three grand system announcements ringing through every player's interface.
[Solaris Kingdom System Announcement]
Congratulations to Raen and his team members Scarlet Rin, Echo Mist, Shiru Blade, Star Flare, Velia Moon, Iron Fist, Lucian Dusk, Raven Blade, and Nina for completing the first clear of the King-Level difficulty of the Misty Palace Dungeon. Their achievement will be recorded in the Annals of History of Glory. Each player has been rewarded with 100 reputation in the Solaris Kingdom and a random rare skill book based on their profession.
[Astralis Region System Announcement]
Congratulations to Raen and his team members Scarlet Rin, Echo Mist, Shiru Blade, Star Flare, Velia Moon, Iron Fist, Lucian Dusk, Raven Blade, and Nina for completing the first clear of the King-Level difficulty of the Misty Palace Dungeon. Their names will forever be marked in the history of the Astralis Region. Each player has been rewarded with 150 reputation in the Astralis City Region and a chance to draw a Gold-level equipment suited to their class.